
Book_JliiJLL_ 

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COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 




WELLINGTON ADAAS 



iprics of gin 
^nmbU 5Birt|) 




BY 



WELLINGTON ADAMS 



Murray Bros, printing Co. 

Washington. D. C. 

1914 



T5 3JTI 



]^\^ 



Copyrig-hted, 1914, by \Velling-ton Adams 

1200 U Street, Northwest 

Washington, D. C. 



MAR K !9!4 



.ioO 



©CI.A868837 



CONTENTS 




^ 




Frontice — The Author 


Page 
1 


Preface by the Author 


. 5 


PART I. 




A IvETTAH TO DE PrESADANT 


* 7 


Ir'nin' Hez Shurt . . • , 


3 9 


A Child's Prayer 


10 


Why Weepest Thou, My Love? ' ^ 


■ 12 


De Mekin's OB a Man . .... 


• 12 


Mother 


14 


Hi! You Little "Devil" Hi!' ' «. ■ ^ 


16 


Thou Queen o' the Western Sea 


18 


Apprehension ' .' . . . . 


^ 20 


Aftah de Bat'le . . ... 


. 20 


Th' Passing of 'Old Aunt^Maria' 


22 


Eatin's 


24 


Where is God? 


25 


Let us hab Peace! . . . . 


26 


SCRIBT TAH MiSTAH SmAL' WoOD . 


28 


Dem dah 'Tru' Refomahs' 


29 


POLAHTICKS ...... 


31 


Why IS Whiskey such a Curse? 


33 



PART II. 

Scripts 37 

SwEKTHEART Mine . . . .38 

*In thk City of Jasper Walls . . 41 
Mammy Lov's Her Kinky-headed Boy . 43 
There'll Come a dark Cloud Sometime 44 

f^oNELY Night 45 

*After a While . . . . .47 

, J'retty Moon 39 

Mah Sw*et Li'l' Chile .... 46 



*Song' Poems have been published, and raay be had 
by addressing" the Author. 



PREFACE. 




lilS little volume of poems, which 
we have so earnestly labored .to 
Jj produce, is but the weak effort ol 
an humble soul, reaching out be- 
yond the piercing gloom and pene- 
trating darkness; which it seems, 
has filled a large part of our life. Regardless of tKe 
many difficulties encumbered, however, the inner-man 
still yearns for a larger usefulness to his race particu- 
larly and mankind in general. All that 1 am and ever 
shall be, possibly, is due to the faithful and assidious 
training of my dead mother (bless her memory) and a 
devoted lather; besides the encouragement given jme 
by my loving sister and devoted brothers. 

The author lays no claim to literary merit in this 
work; for indeed, there may be numerous defects in 
the composition, poetical metre and rythm, that none 
but a critical mind and eye may discern and observe, 
and as to its intrinsic value it is for you to decide, 
dear reader. I am willing however, to launch my 
little **bark" upon the ** Literary sea, to sinker swira, 
survive or perish," as the case may be. 

I beg further to thank a few friends for their kind 
advice and helpfulness in the preparation of this 
work- Most respectfully yours, 

Washington, D. C. W. A. 

February, 1914 



DEDICATED TO 
MY BELOVED PARENTS. 



Lyrics of An Humble Birth 



PART I. 



A LETTAH TO DE PRESADANT. 

Was'nton, Fust-twintee-thurd, 14. 

Mistah Wilson, sah, mah Pres'dant, 
Ah thought'd write yo' a line; 

To chur yo' up a bit, but whant 
Distub yah othah time. 

Ahm glad yo' had a dandie trip, 
To dat 'Pas' Khris'un' town; 

An' dat yo' got rid ob de 'grip' 
Yo' carrud fr'm dese groun's. 

Ahm glad, sah, yo' didn't ke'p rite on 

Ez stardid, on dat 'ship' ; 
Fah feah ob dem dah 'Mexahcons', 

Mought git yo' on de 'slip'. 



Dem countra folks, sah, sho' lak yo', 
Doan dey? — 'n' ahm so glad; 

Ah re'd, how dey kep' on de go 
To find yo' an' yah 'Cad'. 

Ah hope de 'Mistriss ob de Ian' — 
Ah'll add (yo' dautahs) too; 

*N'jord demselv's ez bes' dey kan, 
Wile dey wtiz thah wid yo'. 

Ahm glad to see 'Mah Presadant', 
Bac' hyeah 'n' dis ol' town ; 

So biz'ness' kan go on, Gawd grant, 
An' ke'p dat 'Congrist' down. 

Gib mah respechts to awl de boys — 

'Tom'ltee', an' de res'; 
Whahs wurkin' thah fah yo' an' 'joys 

De t'ings dat am de bes'. 

Now, ah mus' clos' dis lettah now, 
Mah wurks be'n hard today; 

Ah'll send dis writin' anyhow — 
'Boiit awl ah got to say. 



To de Tresadant' 
W'ite 'ouse. 



Yoahs trulay, 

Tap' D. C. 



IR'NIN' HEZ SHURT. 

^'Yo' Sally !-er-r--Sal-ly !, 
Com' hyeah gal, an' hurry be ; 
Um gwine t' git yo', sho' ez day, 
Ez yo' doan com' rite away : 
Go 'n' git yah Daddy's shurt; 
Doan yo' kno' hez com' fr'm wurk, 
An' tah chu'ch has gottah go? 
'Usht up gal — doan sa' no mo' !" 

The lit'le girl then got the "shurt", 

With her feelings awf'ly hurt'd ; 
"Ir'nd" away with all her might. 

For her "mammy" on that night. 
"Air yo' ir'nin' dat shurt, gal?" 

Yell'd the mother wild, to "Sal" ; 
"Yas'uni!" answer'd her, the while, 

Trembling like a sinner vile. 

"Com' ole mawn, yo' suppahs' don';' 
"Wal," said he, "ahm comin' hon' ;' 

And the couple soon sat down 

At the table, they were found. 
"Lawd," said he, " 'ave mussy now, 

Bles' dem tatoes, meat 'n' 'chow'; 

Ar-min !"— and he fiU'd his plate. 

As of ev'rything he ate. 



Moved his chair, as he made haste — 
Not a minute did he waste; 
Dressing hurried — got his tie, 
As the ''shurt" his wife did spy — 
"Sal-ly ! brin' dat shurt on hyeah ! 
Whut yo' sa'? — Bettah keah ! 
Hawn hit hyeah ! — 'Mah' ! — luks reel w'ite 
Ole mawn, yo'll sho' luk out o' sight !" 

*'De ole mawn" took his '*shurt" 'n' smiled, 
Ez put'in' on, she stood and eyed : 

"Lawd ! Swsan, dis shurt ahm hot, 
Bu'ns me 'n' ah dunno whot !" 

"Gwane," said she, " 'n' be a mawn. 
Putt hit on. Si, ef yo' khan ; 
Ef ah had'n' hurrud so, 
Yo'd had non' fah chu'ch tah go." 



A CHILD'S PRAYER. 

Kneeling beside a little bed so white, 
Clad in garments so simple and light ; 
Praying to God as the shadows depart, 
A lit'le child with a sorrowful heart. 



Hands clasp'd together and heart full of love, 
Eyes lifting up towards heav'n above ; 
Alone in this world of sorrow and fear; 
Alone from mother's kindness and cheer. 

"Oh! God! is my mother up there with you? 
Let her sweet face shine out thro' skies o' blue ; 
Pray, let her come back to me for "My Care" I 
Would you, dear Lord? Oh, please hear my 
prayer." 

"I'd like to climb up them bright golden stairs, 
To see if my mamma's now o'er there ; 
Grandma, she tells me, each day after day, 
That I'll see mamma, if I would pray." 

"I have little dollies, toys — everything!" 
Cried the poor darling child to her "King"; 
As wafting upward those sweet words of love, 
To the "Kingdom of Mercy" above. 

"I try to be true, so good and so kind. 
And my gradma, each day, I will mind ; 
Keep us now, dear Jesus, each day by day ; 
Amen. Good-night grandma," she would say. 

II 



WHY WEEPEST THOU, MY LOVE? 

The breaking waters of the deep 
As onward rushing, blindly sweep 
O'er distance madly; seems to speak 
To me, as though I came to seek 
Its passion and its fury; streak'd 
With fierce and roaring tortures steep ! 
And calming, while the eve'ning creeps, 
Nor yet the rust'ling waters sleep. 

I standeth, as enchanted, still 

Bewilder'd, lo, in mind and will ; 

To speak? ''Nay ! Nay !" bid'st thou the heart 

As wounded by Dan Cupid's dart : 

("He loves me?— 'Yes;' he loves me?— 'Not!'") 

Re-echoed 'round that lonely spot ; 

When, out o' the depths rang out above 

The mist "Why weepest thou, my love?" 



DE MEKIN'S OB A MAN. 

Jake, yo' ax' me whut de mekin's 
Ob a man 'n' dis hyeah day? 

Ah'll tell yo' q'ickly whut ah t'inks : 
Hard wurk 'n' not no play ! 

12 



Yo' ax' me den why, ef dey wurks, 

Dey nebber hab no eese; 
Bekaze, ah t'inks, dey awlus shurks, 

'N' shurking wurk, doan pleese. 

Mah bruddah, deirs no ust tah kic', 

Fah kic'in' is'nt game; 
De woild am made ob dem who stic's 

An' wurks on jist de same. 

Dis am de age ob really men. 
Who ob dah knol'edge gibs ; 

De bes' dat 'n' dem is, w'ich sends 
De woild 'roun' ez hit libs. 

De man who awlus dreemin' is, 
An' nebber seems tah t'ink; 

He soon will drap out ob de *biz', 
An den fawl o'er de brink. 

De woild, hit calls fah men ob strin'th, 

Who acht upon de sq'are; 
An' men ob currage who won't s'rink 

Fr'm duty, 'n' who'll dare. 

Men mus' hab nerb ef dey mus' face 

Hard tri'ls, an' not swerb 
One inch fr'm whah dah ac'ions' base; 

E'vn dough de way am cur'b. 



13 



Dese t'ings, ahve sed, dey hab som' waight, 

Ah hope yo' undahstan' ; 
Awl dat ahve sed is sho'ly, Jake, 

De mekin's of a man. 

MOTHER. 

Tho' human as thou wert, still in thine image 
I behold 

Sweet visions of an lov'lier one than earth af- 
fords ; who, bold, 

Did fight for right with ev'ry might and with 
all done, gone home, 

To God, her Maker, vict'ry won — rest under 
heaven's dome, 

Dear Mother. 

Remember thou her not of days, when suck- 
ling babe I were? 

And youthful capers with my mates, in inno- 
cence did err? 

"Why not?" I say, when all "my world" was 
center'd in the hand 

That held "me" — little fellow — up, who was 
too weak to stand ! 
Kind Mother. 

14 



Her words, I well remember now, as the* 

'twere yesterday ; 
They sank so deep into my heart as I began 

to pray : 
"My son," as calm she raised my head, "do 

right, let come what may," 
And from that day, though tempted still, "I go 

the righteous way." 
My Mother. 

Up thro' the fleeting years to manhood, gently 

as I grew, 
Some joys were mine, 'tis true, but oh ! the 

troubles that I knew ! 
And, through it all, what better friend in all 

the world I had 
Than she whose spirit sweeps the sky, as 

joined by angels glad? 
True Mother. 

"Dust to dust" — as the minister stood with 

outstretched arm and hand ; 
"Ashes to ashes" — on he read to that sad- 

stricken'd band, 
Who, mourning then, because Grim Death saw 

fit to enter in 
And steal away such "precious gem" — 'tis 

heaven's gain, the end. 
Sleep, Mother. 

IS 



Sleep on. Yea, the blessed Saviour soon'll 

come and gather in 
All His children, patient, waiting, and their 

sorrow He shall end. 
Angel-heralds, swiftly flying, as they sing 

"Hosannas !" 
We will join them, shouting, and go up with 

flying banners. 

Meet Mother. 



HI! YOU LITTLE DEVIL, HI! 

Hi ! you little devil, hi ! 

You think you are so mighty sly : 

Seeking to slay 

Whom you will or may ; 

Binding your victims night and day ; 

Hi ! you little devil, hi ! 

Run! you little devil, run! 

Away wi' that contemptible "fun"; 

Sneaking around 

Like a hungry hound; 

Trying to fool ev'ry weakling found; 

Run ! you little devil, run ! 

i6 



Shoo! you little devil, shoo! 

No time have I to fool with you ; 

Folks you advise 

Tell yarns and *'big" lies, 

And then you look as if surpris'd ; 

Shoo! you little devil, shoo! 

Scat! you little devil, scat! 
Sly are you as a sneaking cat ; 
Some think you're grand, 
Take you by th' hand. 
Inviting to their whiskey-stand ; 
Scat! you little devil, scat! 

Ouch! you little devil, ouch! 

Please take away that horrid grouch ; 

It makes me sin, 

Hate, envy, and — then 

I cannot conscientiously grin ; 

Ouch! you little devil, ouch! 

Run ! you little de\'il, run ! 

Before the setting of the sun : 

1 must make haste 

Now to mend my case. 

Ere I have ceas'd to run this race ; 

Run ! vou little de\il, run ! 



17 



THOU QUEEN O' THE WESTERN SEA. 

Out of the myst'ries of the past, 

Out o' the depths of centuries blast, 

Out of the hidden pages rare, 

Out of a history so fair, 

For all the world to see and know, 

And feel the crafty hand afore: 

Lift up thy head, and proudly wave 

Your flag, "Thou Queen o' the Western Sea !" 

The hundreds, yea, the thousands, more 

v^'^lied'd they their blood ! Struck to the core 

I^y discontent and tyranny ; 

They battled on for Liberty. 

The "Sons of Might," who fought their way. 

Prayed they to God that all might stay 

And see the "night of terror" flee 

Away, "Thou Queen o' the Western Sea!" 



Then one 'rose up from 'midst the fray, 

Who led on from captivity : 

"George Washington" — and may his name 

On down the ages shine the same. 

Tho' lowly as the start was made, 

'Twas "Lincoln" who his country staid; 

God grant that all our hearts may be ' 

As theirs: "Thou Oueen o' the Western Sea!' 



Roll on, O Time! Roll on, roll on! 

'Till all shall know the burden burned 

Of them oppres'd by Fate's decree, 

And join the coming jubilee. 

Lift up thy head, thou bee and drone, 

Let thriftiness by us enthrone; 

The "Stars and Stripes" unfurl'd, we see — 

Hooray! ''Thou Queen o' the Western Sea!" 

Arise ! ye gallant men, arise ! 

Measure up to your country's size ; 

Your noble women, you should prize; 

Help lift their burden to the skies. 

Arise, I say; make good the day, 

Nor ever thou forget to pray; 

Let victory be purchased free 

From stain, ''Thou Queen o' the Western Sea!" 

Go from th' dread yesterday, O men! 

Fear leave behind — the morrow'll mend; 

Your country's strong in th' things that make 

For "right and freedom." None can take 

Our banner down and on it frown ; 

Nor e'en the lustre from our crown. 

Until our bodies, resting be 

Neath clay, "Thou Queen o' the Western Sea!" 



19 



AFTAH DE BAT'LE. 

Written from an incident during the Congress at Wash- 
ington, D. C, January 14, 1914. 
(W^ith apologies.) 

Say, Bill, whut's awl dat fuss about 

Upon de Cap'tol hill? 
Ah hyeah a moughty rum'ling 'thout 

Dat room, jest lak one's kill'd. 

Why, Sam, dey's fi'tin obah dah. 
Two men wid face shav'd klean'd ; 

.\ hit'in heah an' hit'in thah, 
Jest lak de debble, seem'd. 

Ah hurd de noise an' out ah flew, 
Fah feah dey mought hu't me ; 

An' w'en ah runs, de othahs do, 
'N feah ob dat melee. 

Dem ''Sinitors" dey hollard out 

Loud to de 'Ivator man — 
"Down!" dey shout, ez ef a fiah's 'bout 

De place, an' 'n' dey lan'd. 

Gee whiz ! one man wuz a runnin' 
'Roun' lak hez bloomin' mad; 

He ax'd foh a gun to shoot sump'n, 
Whut hap'nd ah hope wuzn't bad. 

20 



Wal, Bill, ah kno'd 'twuz som'thin' doin" 
What'h fiah dah sho' is smok' ; 

Yoah rite, to act w'en trubble's brew'n, 
Test muv' on ez de smok'. 



APPREHENSION. 

Whut meks me shuddah w'en de rain 
Corn's fawl'n down so hard? 

An' meks we whant tah hide mahse'f 
Behin' somethin' dat's ood ! 

Whut meks me shuddah thoo 'n' thoo 
W'en light'nin' streaks de sky? 

'N' mut'rin' thundahs sheks mah doo' 
An' meks me calm an' shy ! 

Hit gits so dark 'n' glu'my, too, 
An' feah cre'ps in mah heart, 

Dat ah would gib up awl ah knew 
Ah own'd, fah hit tah 'part. 

But den, ah 'fleets — com's tah mahse'f, 
'N' sees 'tis Gawd dat sends 

De rain hyeah fah ouah goodness, ef 
We lub' Him tah de end. 



21 



THE PASSING OF "OLD AUNT MARIA.' 



(Note. — The first line of each stanza is to be sung 
as the chorus of "Nearer My Home," 6s, in Baptist 
Hymnal No. 636; published by the American Baptist 
Pub. Society^ Philadelphia, Pa.) 

"Ah'm near'er mah horn', near'er mah horn' " — 

Rang out upon the air, 
As old Aunt Maria raised her voice, 

With song, to God in prayer. 
Her form bent'd o'er by age's firm hand ; 

Her voice, tho' coarse, was sweet ; 
While angels seem'd to hover o'er, 

As though they came to greet. 

"Ah'm near'er mah hom' taliday,'^ 

She sang more fervently 
Than ever, as she leaned upon 

Her crooked cane that day ; 
Her voice, it seem'd, grew weaker 

And softer, as she raised 
Her eyes toward heaven gently. 

To God, in song and praise. 

"Yas, near'er mah hom', 'n' heav'n tahday" — 

Her eyes were fill'd with tears, 
As she remembers "Calvary," 

The Christ, and Cross He bears. 

22 



With eyes fix'd upward, as she saw 

Him sitting on His throne, 
And all the angels flying up 

The great "white way" that shone. 

"Yas, near'er mah horn' 'n' heav'n tahday"- 

As echoed, faintly grew 
The voice of one whose feeble form 

Was nearing its adieu. 
The cane she drop'd upon the floor, 

And shocked her old white head; 
Her pulse was beating slowly — 

Soon be number'd with th' dead. 

"Then ebbah ahve been befoh," 

Was whisper'd soft, as death 
Was stealing her away from there; 

And left them all bereft: 
As, one by one, they gather'd 'round 

And murmured — "She is gone !" 
Yes, old Aunt Maria's task was done 

On earth, that Sunday morn. 



:<yp^ 




23 



EATIN'S. 

(To Mrs. M. L. S. M. and Mrs. S. F. L.) 

Gwood Lawd, luk at dem biskits dah, 

Jist steamin' hot 'n' brown; 
A-layin' 'n' dat pan o'er dah : 

Sis' Maffews, han' 'em 'round. 

Mali mouf s a-runnin' watah fas' 

Tah see dat gravby — Oh ! 
Ah wandah jist how Ion' hit'll las': 

Sis' Maffews, air yo' sho'? 

Now, hyeah yo' commin' in tah eat 

Sis' Luis — tek- his cheah ; 
'N' plees' mah'ni, doan fahgit dat meat, 

Tah parse hit o'bah hyeah ! 

Yo' mouf, hit's greasy 'roun', Sis Luis ; 

Ah gist mine's greasy, too. 
Sis' Maffews, 'scuse us ef yo' plees, 

Fer eatin' ez we do! 

Wal, now, ahm full ez ah kin be, 

Jist can't crowd in no mo' ; 
Sis Maffews, can't yo' eas'ly see 

Mah stummack's curbin' o'er? 



24 



Ah t'ank yo' mah'm, fah dis 'ere bread 

'N' meat yo' kindly cook'd 
Upon de fiah fah me ; — ah sed 

'TVould taste good ez hit luk'd ! 

WHERE IS GOD? 

Whej-e is God? — the question ask'd : 
Ev'rjwhere the sunlight basks ; 
Ev'rjwhere the darkness goes, 
As tie day its ending close. 

Cast he eye towards the sky, 
Wher\ the stars in silence fly ; 
And tie Sun and Moon, of old, 
'Cross me distant heaven roll. 

'Mong he fishes of the deep, 
Where, Vi boundless area, sweep; 
In the sWll upon the shore — 
God is tlere, forevermore ! 

Look upt the forest grown 

And the Ikflet and the corn ; 

E'en the iot from whence they sprang, 

On His id^ existing, hang. 

25 



In the bowels of the earth, 
Min'ral gems, find ye a dearth ; 
In the secrets 'neath the plain, 
Is the answer "God," again. 

In the blooming- little flow^'r ; 
In the honeysuckles' bow'r; 
In the hidden'd tiny cells, 
"God" alone, our Maker, dwells. 

LET US HAB 'N'TAHNASHON'L PEACE. 

Let us hab peace, at any kost, 
An' sabe ouah strin'th fah othah s»rt 
Ob fi'tin' — wid ouah hands an' s.'w, 
'N othah wurk — dawgon' de wa ! 

Let us hab peace ; ez yeahs ago 
Upon de field, wid foreign foe, 
Ouah boys, 'n dat Rev'lushion v^ar, 
Spiird precious blood — dawga' de war! 

Let us hab peace; an* did'n lo' 
Ob ouah brave boys, ez can'n roa', 
Fac'd miles ob steel an' nutti' awed, 
'N' '65 — dawgon' de war! 

26 



Let us hab peace. Remember Spain — 
How wid dis countra fought again? 
Dey box'd one 'nuttah's yeah an' jaw 
Until one yell'd — dawgon' de war! 

Let us hab peace; dem "Russ" 'n' "J^'Ps' 
Dey kno' de feelin's ob a slap; 
Fah didn't dey kic' an' ghee an' haw 
Lak two ol' mules — dawgon' de war ! 

Let us hab peace; now com's de Bo'r 
'N' Ainglund, whut wid dem got sor' ; 
E'en Bulgar an' de Turks, too, whoah 
Dah bre'ches thoo — dawgon' de war! 

Let us hab peace. Yas, go tah co'rt 
Yo' countries — doan yo' mek us tote 
Ouah trubbles dah, an' fac' de law 
Tah k'ep de peace — dawgon' de war ! 

Let us hab peace. Marse Cahneegay, 
He bilt'd de Hague fah yo' tah lay 
Yoah trubbles 'foh dem jedges dah, 
An' larn som' sense — dawgon' de war! 

Let us hab peace — ob corse, ah g'ess 
Hit's hard tah quit a fi'tin' mess ; 
Ef thah's somethin' wurth fi'tin' fah, 
Den gwane, dawgon', 'n' git 'n' war. 

27 



Let us hab peace! Marse Bryan's right, 
Fah ke'pin' friendship wid'n' sight; 
Ef he doan stop de wars — jist well 
K'ep ])uildin' ships tah shoot lak' — '1. 



SCRIBT TAH MISTAH SMAL'WOOD. 

(This poem was contained in a letter to Mr. Small- 
wood, City Editor of the Bvening Star, Washington. 
D. C, after a call made upon him on the previous day.; 

Mistah Smal'wood, mah deah sah : 
Will yo' pardahn me ef ah 
Rite yo' dis hyeah lettah, fah 
Yoah great kindness, w'ile ah's thah ; 
On a misshon strange tah say, 
Dat wuz fahr'ign 'n' a way ; 
But ah whanted yo' tah see 
Dem dah po'ms ob mine, yo' see. 

Yo' sahpriz'd me 'n a way, 
Wen yo' sed "mah talunt" lay 
T'wards dat nobbil man ob fame — 
*'Dunbar," dat's de gen'man's name. 
Ef ah b'lieved awl dat yo' say 
Ah would drown mahse'f tahday 
'N a pot ob bilin' oil, 
Thah tah stay ontel ah boil'd. 

28 



Youse jist playin' wid me, eh! 
'On'st now, ov/n up an' say 
Whut yo' mint w'en ah wuz dah, 
Stan'n' on dat floo' so bah ; 
Wal, ah t'ank yo' jist de same, 
Fah whut hap'nd, ahm tah blame. 



DEM DAH "TRU' RAFORMAHS." 

(To the U. O'. T. R.) 

Ah whants tah say a wurd er two 

Tah eb'ry boddy hyeah ; 
Dem "Tru' Raformahs," sho' ez Sue, 

Air mekin' hit fah fair. 

Ob corse, dey had a hard ol' time, 
Who wouldn't wid sich "fools"; 

A-monkin' wid thah money 'hind 
De door upon de stools. 

De peepal den got moughty skeer'd, 
Wid awl thah money flo'n ; 

'N' wid dah voices, up dey rear'd 
A moughty loud "dawgon'." 

29 



Wal den, dey set'ld down tah wurk, 

Wid Griffin ez de man ; 
Who made dem hus'le — awl, who'd shurk 

De biz'e'ness at han'. 

Dis Griffin wuz a real good man, 
Tah good tah stay 'roun' hyeah ; 

Fer he wuz call'd fr'm oft de san' 
Ob time, hez crown tah weah. 

Dey's commin' ; yes, dey's commin' sho' ! 

Dem "Tru' Raformah" folk ; 
Ez Ross is at de helm fah mo' 

Ob dem dah houn's tah soalk. 

But grac'ous kno's, whut mo' yo' ask 

Ob Ross thawn be a man? 
He'll whop 'n' line awl who harrass 

An' wobbles lak a kan ! 

Rite hyeah 'n' Was'nton tah day 

We hab Sis' Saraw Luis ; 
Whut 'n' de debble did yo' say? 

Ah sed. Sis' Saraw Luis ! 

She's one among de gra' big Four 

Dat rules dis moughty ban' ; 
'N' Secratahry Maffews sho' 

Is wid her han' 'n' han'. 



30 



Ob corse, ahm hyeah wid dem rite now, 
Dat's why ah calls dah names; 

Dey'll th'ow yo' 'n' a pot ob "sour," 
Sho' ez yo're 'n' de game. 

Dem "Tru' Rafohmahs" we mus' prais', 

Fah mekin' thru dah way; 
By many obstackles dat rais'd 

Up dah big haids tah stay. 



POLAHTICKS. 

Three cullud gen'min met, tah say 

Some vital "Polahticks," 
Ez dey wuz leadahs ob de day, 

An' by de peepal pick'd. 

"Now, Sam," sed one, "yo' mek yo' say, 
Tell whah yo' stan' one way; 

We'll lis'n clos' fah ev'ry word 
Dat yo' will hab tah say." 

"Wal, genTmin," sed Mistah Sam; 

"Ah Stan's flat-footdid — dah! 
Upon de plank mah Tarty' ran, 

Tah be fahebbah, sah !" 



31 



"Ah am 'Rapublickun,' yo' kno', 
Fah fifty yeahs dey've stood 

Fall eq'al rites, an' somethin' mo', 
An' fer us done much good." 

*'De 'Democraps' ouah 'n'mies air, 
Dey'll gib yo* nuttin' — hyeah? 

An' nebbah will ez long ez deir 
Be votin's lak las' 3^eah !" 

Dem 'gressaves, wid dah Ro'savelt, 

Air tryin' hard tah brake 
Ouah ranks ; an' certahnly we'se felt 

Dah mersahliss han'shake." 

"Ahm gwine tah stan' firm, yo' kan bet, 
Fah "Linco'n's" prinsahpill ; 

An' ef hit rains, den ah'll git wet, 
Dan gib o'bah at will." 

So, awl agree'd dat Sam wuz rite, 

'N whut he had tah say ; 
Ez each one on dat very nite 

Decided that tah stay. 

Wid Sam, an' awl de othah folk 

Who did wid dem belieze 
In "Polahticks" an' nebbah bolt 

De *'publickuns" fah ease. 

32 



WHY IS WHISKEY SUCH A CURSE? 

(Inspired by and written during the address of Dr. 
C. W. Childs, member of the Board of Education, in a 
temperance meeting at the First Baptist Church, West 
Washington, D. C, February 1, 1914. Other addresses 
weri made by Dr. C. H. Marshall, member of the Board 
of Education; Mrs. Rosetta Lawson, and the pastor. 
Rev. Dr. Edgar E. Ricks, who presided.) 



Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it taints the pure; 
Wh}'- is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it harms you sure. 

Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it makes a "fool"; 
Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it does'nt "cool". 

Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it dulls the heart; 
Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it consumes the spark. 

Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because the man, it damns ; 
Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because the body, it jams. 



33 



Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it makes you owe; 
Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it makes you poor. 

Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it ruins the home ; 
Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it makes you mourn. 

Why is whiskey such a curse? 

■ Because with brutish force it holds 
The tot'ring form of young and old; 
And squeezes on their vitals, bold 
With vengeance, leaving bare the soul. 

Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it spoils the girl ; 
Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because it dims thv. ''pearl". 

Why is wdiiskey such a curse? 

It plucks the "roses" from the cheek 
And dims the lustre of the eye, 

As tears of sorrow slowly streak 
D6wn into the "cup" of bitter sighs. 



34 



Why is whiskey such a curse? 

Because in it death's lurking 
Behind the screen of Fate unseen; 

And of your life's blood sucking. 

It fills the world with fearful gloom 
And miseries' attendant woe; 

While, in its train, the weak entomb 
Within its dismal chasm low. 

It makes your troubles mountain high 
Pile up, as others, passing by. 

Are happy; while to ''danger" fly 

You drop — O, wretched soul ! and die. 




35 



PART II. 



SONG-POEMS. 

Set to Music by the Author. 



SCRIPTS. 

I'm longing for you dear, 
When, too, we will be near, 
By each other's side. 
Thro' all eternity; 
Yes, you, my love, shall be. 
O'er life's tempestuous sea. 
And the smilin^- moon and stars 
Our guide shall be. 

Good-bye, sweetheart good-bye, 
Good-bye, sweetheart good-bye, 
May angels ever guide thee. 
Until we meet again ; 
Good-bye, sweetheart good-bye. 
Good-bye, sweetheart good-bye. 
Remember in the parting. 
My heart, it giveth pain, 

Z7 



Under the green leaf tree, dear, 
There's where I long to be, 
Heart light as air. 
Sky bright and clear, 
Listen, sweetheart, you care? 

If your love be as pure, dear, 
I'll give my heart to you ; 
Forever one, 
By the calm setting Sun, 
Under the green leaf tree. 



SWEETHEART MINE. 

Sweetheart mine. 
Love divine. 

Well I think on you ; 
And my heart, 
Weary worn, 

Calling now for you; 
Thro' the live-long day I am still 
Thinking of the time when we will 

Be as happyy as birds of the sky; 
Oh, sweetheart; sweetheart mine! 

38 



Sweetheart mine, 
Love divine, 

Roses then for you; 
Your bright eyes. 
Your bright smiles, 

Draws me nearer you ; 
Tho' all else I may then forget, 
Call back, dear, the days when we mei; 

Ne'er was heart so divine and so pure, 
Oh, sweetheart : sweetheart mine ! 



PRETTY MOON. 

There's a story I would tell of love in June 

time, 
When the flowers sweet are blooming in the 

dell, 
And the birds are sweetly * singing in the 

noontime — 
The story, I remember it so well. 
All the mem'ries of the past I recollect when 
Evening shadows fall around, as long ago; 
In my fancy I can picture all the scenes when 
The pretty moon's ashining all aglow. 

39 



CHORUS. 

Pretty moon, shining soon, 

Pretty Moon, you're a boon, 

With your smiling face out in the sky; 

Pretty moon, come and spoon, 

Oh tell me why you sigh — pretty moon, honey 

moon ; 
ril be true, dear, to you 
As the stars in the blue, 
And my promise to you I'll obey ; 
Pretty moon, come and spoon — don't hide your 

smiling face, 
Pretty moon, pretty moon. 



In life's fickle pathway. 

Lie both thorns and roses. 

As we journey t'wards the unseen distant goal ; 

And the rampant and the brave their little life 

goes 
Out o'er the steep of time unto the shoal ; 
Well, may we imagine a picture of the shadow 
Of a never-ending tide of transient dreams, 
As when off the stage of action, great and small 

go— 
This life is but a picture on the screen. 

CHORUS. 

40 



IN THE CITY OF JASPER WALLS. 

(Sacred.) 



Sitting alone dreaming wearily, 
After the close of an arduous day ; 
There, by a candle which burns so low, 
One by one the angels come and go. 
Gazing in silence with breathless sigh, 
Wond'ring shall any more here go by; 
Leaving this mortal, down here below; 
Burden'd and footsore — joys come no more, 
Still in my dreams I can see the shore 
Where the INIaster doth reign evermore. 



CHORUS. 

Heav'n is the home of the blest 

Where all the saints are at rest; 

Angels, so bright and so fair. 

They are calling me o'er there : 

Th' good book says th' streets are pav'd wi' 

shining gold, 
And rivers of crystal brightness flow ; 
On a great white throne reigns the King 

over all. 
In the city of Jasper Walls. (Repeat.) 



41 



2. 

When in the glow of yon heav'nly light, 
Comes then to me lo' a wond'rous sight; 
Mansions made ready "by God's own hand 
For His dear children in yonder land. 
Seraphs and cherubs, hither they fly. 
Mingling with millions from sky to sky; 
And loud hosannas ring out above 
From the redeem'd ones, wash'd in His blood; 
Still in my dreams I can see the shore 
Where the Master doth reign evermore. 

CHORUS. 

Tempo 1. 

Hush ! I can hear the mighty happy throng 
In a great and grand triumphant song; 
The Master's face is beaming o'er with love, 
As swiftly they fly thro' realms above; 
No shadows to cover them there, 
No tears their joy to mar; 
One eternal day over there. 
And th' pearly gates ajar. 

CHORUS. 



42 



MAMMY LOV'S HER KINKY-HEADED 
BOY. 

(Typical Southern Lullaby.) 



Mammy lov's her kinky-headed boy, 

'N deed ah lov's yo', 'n deed ah do's — 
Mammy lov's her kinky-headed boy, 

'N deed ah lov's yo' — 'deed ah do's. 
Mammy nebber thought befoh de aingil 
brought 
Mah li'l' lump o' sw'etness — an' o' joy, mah 
baby ! 
Dat yo'd be ez cute a li'l' boy — an' mammy 
lov's yo, 'n deed ah do's. 



Yo' li'l' no'zes air so cute an' small, 

Oh, mammy lov's yo', 'n deed ah do's; 
An' yah face is black an' shiny, too, 

Yit mammy lov's yo', 'n deed ah do's. 
Ah'll buy yo' purty t'ings an' li'l' clo'zes bring, 

An' li'l' tingling bells dat rin' an' rin' — mah 
aingil ! 
An' a li'l' woo'en horzey, too, 

Foh ah sho' lov's yo', 'n deed ah do's. 



43 



3. 

Mammy lov's her kinky-headed boy, 

Ah'll roc' yo' gen'ly tc sle'p, ah will ; 
Mammy'll ke'p de kiver on yo' bed, 

Ah'll tuk it clos'ly an' lov' yo' still. 
Wen yo' gins to cry, rite den ah gins to sigh, 
An' picks yo' up an' roc'y bye-an'-bye — oh, 
Lawdy ! 
Mammy lov's her kinky-headed boy, 
. 'N deed ah lov's you, 'n deed ah do's. 



THERE'LL COME A DARK CLOUD 
SOMETIME. 

I. 

Life and its joys, 
Uncover 'd joys. 

Is but a shadow sublime; 
Fleeting away. 
Just for a day, 

There'll come a dark cloud sometime. 
Sorrows and tears. 
Bitter fears ; 

Longing to see the sunshine; 
Onward we go. 
Fraught with woe — 

There'll come a dark cloud sometime. 



44 



2. 

Weary and worn, 
Bleeding and torn, 

Footsteps are slowing with time. 
Go as we may, 
Follow the way — 

There'll come a dark cloud sometime. 
Still we may hope, 
As we groupe 

Onward thro' dismal sunshine; 

Cling to the task, 

Tho' encompass'd — 

There'll come a dark cloud sometime. 
******* 

Life's not all joy — 

There'll come a dark cloud sometime. 



LONELY TONIGHT. 

I. 

Lonely, tonight, dear, 
'Mid scenes galore; 

Lonely, tonight, dear, 
While the wind blow. 

45 



2. 

I cannot see, dear, 
Your smiling face; 

Still in my dreams, dear. 
You're my solace. 

3. 

Some day I'll wander 
Back to your arms ; 

And then I'll ponder 
Under your charms. 

4- 

Far, far away from 
Your fond embrace; 

Lonely tonight, ''hon", 
Dream of your face. 



MAH SWE'T LI'L' CHILE. 

(Lullaby.) 
I. 
Mammy's li'l' rag'ed pickaninny, pickaninny, 
Mammy lak's tah see her pickaninny, picka- 
ninny ; 
Play'n' in de san', Lawdy know's how gran', 
Yah li'l' toes an' fin'ers, awl a-flyin' in de aire, 
Now hyeah, an' deir, an' ev'ry wheir, 
Mah swe't li'l' chile, li'l' chile. 
46 



Mammy's li'l' cross-eye'd pickaninny, picka- 
ninny, 

Mammy's liT greas'y pickaninny, pickaninny; 

Mam'll rub yah head, put yo' in de bed ; 

So go tah sle'p, mah li'l' babe, an' yo' de aingils 
keep. 

Now, lay yo' head upon mah bres', 

Mah swe't li'l' chile, li'l' chile. 

Psh! — hush, now go tah sle'p, mah 'ninny, 

pickaninny, 
Psh ! — don' cry, bad man'll git mah baby, 

pickaninny ; 
Clos' dem li'l' eyes, mammy hyeahs yah cries. 
Now, roc'-er-bye, mah li'l' babe, an dream ob 

mudder deah, 
Ah'll hold yo' close, widdin' mah ahms, 
Mah swe't li'l' chile, li'l' chile. 



AFTER AWHILE. 

I. 

Why are the days so long and drear, 
Why is my heart so pain'd? 

It is because we parted, dear. 
When you my love disdain'd. 

47 



Flowers, they blossom and w'ther and die, 

Then I recall those days gone by : 

When you caress'd me, 

And fondly kiss'd me. 

And then you said ''good-bye." 

CHORUS. 

After awhile — when th' stars are gleaming, 

After awhile — a broken heart; 

You'll understand while we are parted, 

After awhile, after awhile. 
After awhile — when th' years are flying, 
After awhile — when your hair's gray ; 
'Tis then you'll know I loved you only, 
After awhile. 

2. 

Twilight, it softly fades away. 

So with my life each day : 

Fill'd with its sorrow, but still I pray 

For your return some day. 

Once I was always bright and gay, 

But now I'm pining fast away ; 

Don't you remember. 

In (that) cold December, 

When you bade me ''good-bye"? 



48 



